HESI A2 Entrance and Exit Exam Preparation Document
1. Which anatomical plane divides the human body into anterior and posterior portions?
A) Transverse plane
B) Frontal (Coronal) plane
C) Midsagittal plane
D) Parasagittal plane
Correct Answer: B) Frontal (Coronal) plane
The frontal or coronal plane runs vertically from side to side, dividing the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) sections. The transverse plane separates superior and inferior parts.
2. A patient with severe gastrointestinal bleeding develops tachycardia and a low blood pressure
reading of 82/50 mmHg. What mechanism is the body attempting to maintain?
A) Metabolic clearance
B) Hemostasis
C) Homeostasis
D) Active transport
Correct Answer: C) Homeostasis
Homeostasis represents the dynamic physiological balance maintained by body systems despite external or
internal environmental disruptions. Tachycardia develops as a compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac
output during hypovolemia.
3. What organelle inside eukaryotic cells contains hydrolytic enzymes responsible for breaking
down cellular waste and damaged organelles?
A) Lysosome
B) Peroxisome
C) Mitochondrion
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: A) Lysosome
Lysosomes act as cellular digestive units containing acidic hydrolase enzymes that degrade unneeded
biomolecules, foreign pathogens, and worn-out organelle components.
,4. Which layer of the epidermis contains actively dividing stem cells that continuously produce
new keratinocytes?
A) Stratum corneum
B) Stratum granulosum
C) Stratum spinosum
D) Stratum basale
Correct Answer: D) Stratum basale
The stratum basale (or stratum germinativum) is the deepest epidermal layer, anchored to the basement
membrane, where single-layered cuboidal stem cells divide rapidly to replenish outer skin layers.
5. Convert 3/8 into an exact decimal value.
A) 0.325
B) 0.375
C) 0.425
D) 0.625
Correct Answer: B) 0.375
Dividing the numerator (3) by the denominator (8) yields 0.375.
6. Solve for x: 4x - 7 = 25.
A) x = 6
B) x = 7
C) x = 8
D) x = 9
Correct Answer: C) x = 8
Add 7 to both sides of the equation (4x = 32), then divide both sides by 4 to get x = 8.
7. A nursing student scored 85% on a test containing 60 total questions. How many questions did
the student answer correctly?
, A) 48
B) 51
C) 53
D) 55
Correct Answer: B) 51
Multiply the total number of questions by the percentage expressed as a decimal: 60 × 0.85 = 51.
8. Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: The nurse observed that the medication
had a positive _______ on the patient's recovery.
A) affect
B) effect
C) efficacy
D) affection
Correct Answer: B) effect
"Effect" is used as a noun meaning a result or outcome. "Affect" is typically used as a verb meaning to influence
or produce a change in something.
9. What is the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence? "The patient presented
with labile blood pressure readings throughout the shift."
A) Consistently elevated
B) Fluctuating rapidly
C) Abnormally suppressed
D) Steadily decreasing
Correct Answer: B) Fluctuating rapidly
"Labile" refers to something that is unstable, unsteady, or prone to frequent and unpredictable changes or
fluctuations.
10. Which bone of the skull houses the auditory ossicles and the delicate structures of the inner
ear?
A) Sphenoid bone
B) Temporal bone
C) Occipital bone
1. Which anatomical plane divides the human body into anterior and posterior portions?
A) Transverse plane
B) Frontal (Coronal) plane
C) Midsagittal plane
D) Parasagittal plane
Correct Answer: B) Frontal (Coronal) plane
The frontal or coronal plane runs vertically from side to side, dividing the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) sections. The transverse plane separates superior and inferior parts.
2. A patient with severe gastrointestinal bleeding develops tachycardia and a low blood pressure
reading of 82/50 mmHg. What mechanism is the body attempting to maintain?
A) Metabolic clearance
B) Hemostasis
C) Homeostasis
D) Active transport
Correct Answer: C) Homeostasis
Homeostasis represents the dynamic physiological balance maintained by body systems despite external or
internal environmental disruptions. Tachycardia develops as a compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac
output during hypovolemia.
3. What organelle inside eukaryotic cells contains hydrolytic enzymes responsible for breaking
down cellular waste and damaged organelles?
A) Lysosome
B) Peroxisome
C) Mitochondrion
D) Endoplasmic reticulum
Correct Answer: A) Lysosome
Lysosomes act as cellular digestive units containing acidic hydrolase enzymes that degrade unneeded
biomolecules, foreign pathogens, and worn-out organelle components.
,4. Which layer of the epidermis contains actively dividing stem cells that continuously produce
new keratinocytes?
A) Stratum corneum
B) Stratum granulosum
C) Stratum spinosum
D) Stratum basale
Correct Answer: D) Stratum basale
The stratum basale (or stratum germinativum) is the deepest epidermal layer, anchored to the basement
membrane, where single-layered cuboidal stem cells divide rapidly to replenish outer skin layers.
5. Convert 3/8 into an exact decimal value.
A) 0.325
B) 0.375
C) 0.425
D) 0.625
Correct Answer: B) 0.375
Dividing the numerator (3) by the denominator (8) yields 0.375.
6. Solve for x: 4x - 7 = 25.
A) x = 6
B) x = 7
C) x = 8
D) x = 9
Correct Answer: C) x = 8
Add 7 to both sides of the equation (4x = 32), then divide both sides by 4 to get x = 8.
7. A nursing student scored 85% on a test containing 60 total questions. How many questions did
the student answer correctly?
, A) 48
B) 51
C) 53
D) 55
Correct Answer: B) 51
Multiply the total number of questions by the percentage expressed as a decimal: 60 × 0.85 = 51.
8. Select the word that correctly completes the sentence: The nurse observed that the medication
had a positive _______ on the patient's recovery.
A) affect
B) effect
C) efficacy
D) affection
Correct Answer: B) effect
"Effect" is used as a noun meaning a result or outcome. "Affect" is typically used as a verb meaning to influence
or produce a change in something.
9. What is the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence? "The patient presented
with labile blood pressure readings throughout the shift."
A) Consistently elevated
B) Fluctuating rapidly
C) Abnormally suppressed
D) Steadily decreasing
Correct Answer: B) Fluctuating rapidly
"Labile" refers to something that is unstable, unsteady, or prone to frequent and unpredictable changes or
fluctuations.
10. Which bone of the skull houses the auditory ossicles and the delicate structures of the inner
ear?
A) Sphenoid bone
B) Temporal bone
C) Occipital bone
